Cutting-machine for paper.



A. & J. H. GOLLIS.

CUTTING MACHINE FOR PAPER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2], 1912.

Patented Nov. 24. 1914.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@MQQW A. & J. H. GOLLIS.

CUTTING MACHINE FOR PAPER.

APPLICATION FILED N0\'.21, 1912.

Patented Nov. 24. 1914.

3 SHEETS-81! i Ill 611K201 ct (OI/ 5 A. & J. H. GOLLIS.

CUTTING MACHINE FOR PAPER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.21, 1912. 1 1 1 8,843 Patented Nov. 24. 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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CUTTING-MACHINE FOR PAPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Application filed November 21, 1912. Serial No. 732,743.

To all 1171mm it may concern:

Be it known that We, ALFRED (Jonas and I Jonx lli-zxuv COLLIS, subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Connected with Cutting-lilachines for Paper and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to improve the construction of that type of machines for cutting paper and the like from the web in which the latter is severed in a direction transverse to its motion by means of a revolving knife in such a manner that all the sheets shall be out true, square and to size.

The improvements proposed by the invention consist principally of a revolving knife and a fixed or dead knife which travel along at the same speed as the paper web, and a clamping appliance, or appliances, which holds or steadies the aper whilethe cutting is takin place. I e also include mechanism for etermining the length of the sheet to be out, before starting up the machine, as is now the usual practice.

Our invention is not confined to square cutting machines, as it can be applied to angle or duplex cutting machines; that is to say, a machine that cuts two dilierent size sheets side by side. It could also be applied to any cutting machine of the types referred to, however many different size sheets are cut. In cutting machines of this type of the kind wherein sheets of paper are cut from the web or reels, a great deal of trouble and waste of paper have hitherto been caused by the revolving knife not cutting the sheets true and square and to one size; also, a large amount of paper has to be wasted and considerable time expended in startingto cut a fresh set of sheets. This has been brought about by the cutting knives acting with a scissor-like motion, and as the web of paper.

is of a considerable width, some even being as wide as 150 inches, the knife in revolving severs the sheets at one side of the web considerably in advance of the other side, as the knife is set to cut in this way. Therefore, the knives have to be set in relation to the aper in such a way as to allow for the time list by the knife cutting one side sooner than the other. As this timing is usually done by guesswork, considerable time is lost before it is satisfactoril completed. With our; machine, these diflibulties are obviated byimaking. the revolvingknife and dead knife sever the paper while they are moving at the same speed at which-the paper is traveling.

In the ordinary way, one or more reels of paper is placed in a reel frame behind the cutter and fed between rollers over the fixed knife, (sometimes known as the dead knife). The revolvin knife acting against the fixed or dead kni e sever-s the sheet, or sheets, which is, or are, then carried away, and either laid automaticall on a receiving appliance such as shown in atent No. 973,- 259, dated October 18, 1910, or by hand. This revolving knife is varied in speed in relation to the speed of the paper, so as to cut the sheets the desired length. In for mer machines of this type, the dead knife has always been stationary; that is to sa it does not move in any direction. Accor ing to our invention, however, the dead knife is only fixed in relation to the revolving knife, as both knives are connected together or mounted on a carriage which receives a reciprocating motion, and the forward movement of the carriage is so timed that the clamp acts on the paper as it moves forward. the clamp holding the aper while it is severed by the revolvin kni o. This severance takes place while t e paper is traveling forward with the dead knife.

It will be seen that as the carriage travels forward at the same rate of speed as and with the paper, the dead knife and paper do not alter their relative position one to the other during the cut, although the knives have a scissors-like action and are cutting for some perceptible time, and in consequence the sheet or sheets can be cut square and true with the sides of the web. Also, mechanism is rovided for determining the length of the s eet to be cut, by varying the speed at which the cutting knife revolves in relation to the rollers which draw the paper into the cutting machine.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved cutting machine; Fig. 2 is a partsectional, fragmental plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the mechanism for determining the length of the sheets to be cut; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the knife carriage; Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the friction clutch; Figs. 6 and 7 are, res ctively, n part-sectional plan view and a ront elevation of an alter and 2 the reciprocatory knife carriage which is mounted upon the top of said frame and travels upon rollers 35. The carriage may be actuated by means of any desired mechanism, and in the present instance it is depicted as connected at each side by a rod t to a horizontal rack 33, also mounted in said frame, but since only one side of the machine appears in T ig. 2, it will he obvious that one raclr and rod alone are illustrated.

. These racks are shifted in one direction,

(forwardly), loy means of pinions 5 which are in mesh therewith and are mounted on a cross-shaft 67, and that shaft is driven from a'pulley 97 on the main shaft 80, (Fig. 8), through the agency of suitable connecting devices. The devices just referred to, are here shown as embodying a belt 98 which connects pulley 97 with a pulley 100 fast on a cross-shaft 101, a gear 10:2 on the latter shaft in mesh with and driving a large gear 103 fast on a third cross-shaft 104:, and a gear 6 loosely mounted on shaft Mill and meshing with the adjacent gear 5, the loose gear 6' losing driven by means of a clutch mechanism hereinafter described. The several shafts 80, 101, 10% and 6? are suitably journaled in horizontal position in the frame, and the firstnamed or" drive shaft carries a pulley 81 "which isconnected with the main source of power, the belt 98 connecting said shaft and the shaft 101 heing trained over guide pulleys 99,

' The aforementioned clutch mechanism,

which serves to render the loose gear 6 op-- erative, is preferably constituted by a male member or sleeve 7 that is splined on shaft 10d and is shifted into and out of frictional engagement with the internal clutch surface provided in said gear. (1F igs. 2 and 5) To effect this shifting of the clutch sleeve, there is utilized in the present construction a forlr 3 which is centrally pivoted to a lorachet 53 on the frame, the terminals of the arms of the fork lacing attached to hushings or sleeves 9. These sleeves 9 are slidahle relatively to a pair of rods if that are fastened at their inner ends to a strap 12, which fits in a groove in the clutch sleeve "Z, the outer ends of the rods losing provided with heads for cooperation with the enlarged outer portions of the sleeves 9. The reduced inner portions of the latter sleeves fit slidingly in openings in the adjacent frame member and are likewise provided with terminal heads. Theroclnng movement forlr is effected hy means of cam 13 the lower end of the fork, (Fig, ll,

"one cam mounted on a horiaontal talents shaft 90, (Fig. 8), that is rotated from the drive shaft in the following manner. Shaft 80 has splined thereto a pulley 38 which is connected by a belt 82 with a similar pulley 39 splined on a shaft 83, so as to rotate the latter, the pulleys 38 and 39 having certain particular structuralfeatures which will be hereinafter set forth. Shaft 83 carries a sprocket 84 that is connected by a chain 85 with a sprocket 86 fast on. a shaft 87, this shaft 87 also carrying a gear 88 in mesh with a gear 89 which is mounted on the opposite end of shaft 90 from cam 13. Tu consequence of this arrangement, the rotationof said cam will cause a rocking movement of fork 8 and an attendant shifting of the clutch sleeve '4' in one direction, (2'. a, into operative engagement with the friction surface in gear 3). When this takes place, shaft 10% will be rotated until the fork terminal reaches the lower part of the cam, whereupon theclutch 7 will be forced out of engagement with gear 6 through t e agency of a pair of springs 10 that encirc ethe rods 11 and are interposed between the strap 12 and the headed inner ends of the sleeves 9. Accordingly, it will he apparent that during the forward movement of the racks, the knife carriage -2 will have a corresponding movement imparted thereto.

The return or rearward movement of the carriage is efiected automatically by the action of springs 33, (Figs. 1, 2 and t), which are themselves tensioned when the carriage moves forwardly. At each side of the frame, at the top thereof, is arranged a horizontal guide rod 31 which extends loosely through a longitudinal passage or recess in the adjacent side'meinber of the carriage and is encircled by one of the said springs 33. These rods are anchored at their rear ends to stops 37 mounted on the frame, and each is provided with a collar 32 against which bears the adjacent end of the spring carried thereby, the front end of the spring hearing against a stop or shoulder 3-1 in the aforementioned passage or recess ,This arrangement produces, therefore, a compression of the springs when the carriage is moved in the direction indicated, the ex: pension of the springs consequent upon the release of the clutch returning said carriage until its rear end shuts against the slots 3'3, as depicted in Fig. 2. The forward movement of the carriage is similarly limited lay .a pair, or pairs, of coacting stops 36 and 3i, the former losing adiustahly mounted on the frame, (Fig.1),and the latter attached to the front member of the carriage.

The knives 27 and 27 are mounted on the carriage, the first of these knives loeing fixed and constituting the so-called dead knife. The 2'? revolves ahout a shaft 96, (Fig.

3), mounted in said carriage, and is, in the mom, of conventional type. The knife shaft 96 is driven from the pulley shaft 83, hereinabove referred to, through the intermediation of gearing here shown as constituting of a substantially vertical shaft 93 which is provided at its opposite ends with bevel gears 92 and 91 that mesh, respectively, with similar gears 91 and 95, carried by the said knife and.pulley shafts. Provision is made for an oscillating or swing ing movement of shaft 93, owing to the mounting of the knife shaft 96 in the reciprocating carriage 2, and this may be accomplished in any desired manner, as, for instance, by connecting the upper and lower bearings for said shaft 93 to the knife and pulley shafts 96 and 83, respectively, but since the mounting in question forms no part of the invention. illustration thereof is considered unnecessary, especially as such illustration would obscure the drawing.

The aper web 63 is led to the cutting machine rom any suitable source of supply, and is passed around guide rollers 58 and 59, (Fig. 1), and thence between the drawing or feed rollers Li and 15, the lower roller 14 being mounted upon the clutch shaft 104. After leaving these rollers, the web passes successively along the incline 16, between the pair of slittin knives 17 and 18, (which cut it longitu inally), along a second incline 62 and between the pair of nipping rollers 19 and 20, the latter rollers, inturn, feeding the web beneath a clamp 22, arranged at the front end of the carriage, and over the dead knife 27 to the revolving knife 27. The sheets cut by said knives pass down a second incline 28 onto a felt 29, and are delivered by the felt to the laying mechanism. (not shown) which latter may be of the type shown and described in Patent No.

973,259, bearing date of October 18, 1910, or.

of any other desired construction. The felt passes around rollers 66 and 69, over guide rollers 68, and under a take-up roller 67, the roller 69 being driven by or from the laying mechanism, and during their travel along the upper stretch of said felt. the sheets pass beneath a roller 30 which bears upon said stretch. and is mounted at the lower end of a pivotally-mounted rod 30 connected to the carriage 2.. The sheets are supported between the nipping rollers 19 and 20, and the carriage by means of a series of bands 21, which may be made of steel. tape or other suitable material, the bands bein fastened at one end to the incline 62 an at the other end toa transverse shaft mounted in the frame 1. the nipping rollers. the bands pass around rollers 64 and 54, the roller 64 being mounted on the front end of the carriage directly in advance of clamp 2, while the roller 54, which is grooved at intervals to receive said bands, is mounted at its ends in bearings 55, (Fig. 2), provided upon the outer ends of a Beyond air of rods 56 that work in openings ormed in opposite sides of the carriage. Said rods are normally held in projected )OSilJiOIl by encirclingcoilsprings 57, wherey the roller 5; is kept pressed against the bands 21, so as to maintain the same taut during the movements of the carriage. The lower nipping roller 19 is also grooved, in order to lpermit the said bands to lie below its perip eral surface, thereby preventing the bands from interfering with the requisite drawing action of the rollers.

In the construction illustrated, the aforementioned clamp 22 has the form of a bar, which is disposed transversely of the carriage, at the front thereof, and is raised or lowered by means of a pair of depending rods 23 connected to its ends, only one of such rods appearing, however, owing to the fragmentary character of Fig. 2. The rods 23 are actuated by means of bell-crank levers 24 that are pivoted upon studs 25 fixed on the carriage and are provided upon the free ends of their rear arms with rollers 25 engaged with cams 26 fixed upon the knife shaft 96. These cams obviously rotate at the same speed as the knife 27, and, hence, any variation in the speed of the latter will correspondingly affect the timing of the operation of the clamp.

It is proposed to vary the speed at which the knife 27 revolves, in order to regulate the length of the sheets to be cut, and this variation is accomplished primarily through the agency of the pulleys 38 and 39, owing to the gearing connecting the knife shaft 96 with the shaft 83 whereon pulley 39'is mounted. Both pulleys are of the so-called expansion type and are composed of oppositely-disposed. frusto-conical disks, (Fig. 3) which are slidablc toward and from each other on their respective shafts, the belt 82 which connects said pulleys having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape, as will be understood.

To effect the above-specified movements of the pulley sections or members, there is preferably provided a pair of levers 42 and 43 which are disposed upon opposite sides of said pulleys, and are loosely connected with the hubs-of said sections. hese lovers are fulcrumed intermediate their ends, upon a pair of collars 44 and 45 carried by a shaft or rod 40 that is arranged between and parallel with the pulley shafts 80 and 83, and at their front ends said levers have a loose connection with a pair of traveling nuts 47 and 46 that workon the rightand lefthand threads formed on a screw-shaft 41 arranged parallel with and in front of shaft 80. In consequence, rotation of shaft 41 will produce a movement of the nuts 47 and 46 either toward or from each other. according to the direction of such rotation. with the results that the lovers 42 and 43 impart a hit ' corresponding movement to the sections of pulley 38 and a reverse movement to those of the pulley 39, owin to the fulcra of said levers being-located fietween said pulleys. The collars t4: and to are preferably threaded on their rod or shaft i0, and are thus rendered adjustable forthe purpose of taking up slack in belt 82, or of compensating for wear.

To rotate the screw-shaft d1, either the mechanism shown in Figs. l and 3 or that shown in Figs. 6 and 7 may be employed, or, in iactyany other mechanism of a like character. In the former construction, the screw-shaft carries a hand wheel 52 and, also a worm d8 which latter meshes with and drives a worm wheel d9 Whose shaft is supported in journal bracket attached to the frame. The face of the worm wheel has secured thereto a graduated disk 51 with which a vernier 5d cotiperates, the vernier being marked with graduations to indicate the various lengths of the sheets to be out, and when a desired mark on the disk 51 alines with one of the divisions of the vernier, the length of the sheets cut will be that indicated by such division, as will he apparent.

In the alternative constructiondepicted in Figs. 6 and 7, the screw-shaft is provided with a bevel gear that meshes with and drives a similar gear Fl on the lower end of a vertical shaft 72. The latter shaft is journaled in bearings 78 and 79 attached to theframe, and' carries at its upper end aivorm 73 which drives a worm wheel 'l-t mounted on a spindle 7.5.- This spindle also carries a graduated wheel or disk 76, with which the Vernier 7? watts, the operation being the same as before and requiring only a few seconds, whereas in the ordinary way much time is consumed in changing gears and pulleys.

The operation is believed to he apparent, in the main, from the foregoing, but it mav be stated that as soon as the desired length of paper has been fed through, the clamp 22 is allowed to drop, owing to the rollers :25 reaching the low part of the cams 26 at that time. The clamp operates to grip the paper against a knife-beam just behind the dead hnit'e Ell the paper being thus held and steadied when the revolving knife 2? corn mences to out. At the same time, the clutch sleeve 7 engages the gear ti, the latter being rotated thereby, with the result that the carrings is forced forward by the movement of the raclrs 3 which is caused by the rotation of the gears 55, and since this movement of the carriage takes place at the same speed as the paper, the sheetswill he out true, and to the required sine and shape.

We claimz I i; Fin n sheet-cutting machine, the comhi notion, frame; of a carriage mounted on said frame; cutting mechanism mounted in said carriage and comprising a fixed knife, and a revolving knife cotiperating with the fixed knife but free of connection therewith; and mechanism for feeding the web and advancing said carriage at the same speed.

2. ln a sheet-cutting machine, the combination, with a frame; of a traveling carriage mounted on said frame; a (lead knife fixed in said carriage; a revolving knife mounted in said carriage for coiiperation with the dead knife, but free of connection therewith, said revolving knife having its axis arranged transverse to the direct on of movement of the web; means for operating said revolving knife; and mechanism for feeding the web and advancing said carriage at the same speed.

3. Th a sheet-cutting machine, the combination, with a frame; of a traveling carriage mounted on said frame; a dead knife fixed in said carriage; a revolving knife mounted in said carriage for ootiperation with the dead knife, but free of connection therewith, said revolving knife having its axis arranged, transverse to the direction of movement of the web; means for operating said revolving knife; a clamp mounted on said carriage for holding and stcadying the web during the cutting operation; and mechanism for feeding the web and advancing said carriage at the same speed.

.i. ln a sheet-cutting machine, the combinatir-n, with a frame; of a traveling carriage mounted on said frame; a dead knife fixed in said carriage; a revolving knife mounted v in said carriage for coiiperation with the dead knife, but free of connection therewith, said revolving knife having its axis arranged tr'nnsvcrse to the direction of movement of the web; means for operating said revolving knife; a clamp operatively connected with said knife-operating means for holding and steadying the web during the cutting operation; and mechanism for feedmg the web and advancing said carriage at the samespeed. I

5. ln a sheet-cutting machine, the combination, with a frame; of a traveling carriage 1 mounted on said frame; cutting mechanism mounted on said frame; cutting mechanism mounted in said carriage; cutting mecha nism and a clamp mounted in said carriage, said cutting mechanism including a revoluhle cutter; mechanism for feeding the web and simultaneously movingsaid carriage in one direction at the same speed; means for operating said cutter during such movement; and means for automatically returning said carriage at the conclusion of the cutting operation.

6. in a sheet-cutting machine, the combination, with a frame; of a traveling carriage mounted on saidframe; cutting mechanism and a clamp mounted in said carriage, said cutting mechanism including a revolublc cutter; mechanism for feeding the web and simultaneousl moving said carriage in one direction at the same speed; means for operating said cutter during such movement; means for operating said clamp during'the cutting operation, to hold and steady the web; and means for automatically returning said carriage at the conclusion of the cutting operation.

7. In a sheet-cutting machine, the combination, with web-feeding mechanism; of a cutting mechanismcomprising a fixed knife,

I. and a revoluble knife cooperating with the fixed knife, but free of connection therewith; and means for moving said cutting mechanism bodily in one direction at the same speed as the web.

8. In a sheet-cutting machine, the comb nation, with webfeed1'ng mechanism; of a cutting mechanism comprising a fixed knife, and a revoluble knife cooperating with the fixed knife, but free of connection therewith; a clamp cooperating with said knives for holding and steadying the web during the cutting operation; and means for moving said cutting mechanism and said clamp bodily'in the direction in which the web is fed, and at the same speed as the web.

9. In a sheet-cutting machine, the combination, with web-feeding mechanism; of a cutting mechanism comprising a fixed knife,

and a rcvoluble knife cooperating with the fixed knife, but free of connection therew-1 th; means for moving said cutting mechanism bodily in one direction at the same speed as the web; means for operating the cutting mechanism during such movement; and means for automatically returning said cutting mechanism to normal position at the conclusion of such movement.

10. In a sheet-cutting machine, the combination, with web-feeding mechanism, and operating means therefor; of a cuttin mechanism; and a rack-and-gear connection between the feeding and cutting mechanisms for moving the latter mechanism bodily in the direction in which the web is fed, and at the same speed as the web.

11. In a sheet-cuttin machine, the combination. with web-fee mg mechanism, and operating means therefor including an automatically-actuated clutch; of a cutting mechanism; and a rack-and-gear connection between the feeding and cutting mechanisms for moving the latter mechanism bodily in the direction in which the web is fed and at the same speed as the web.

12. In a sheet-cutting machine, the combination, with web-feeding mechanism; of a cutting mechanism comprising a fixed knife, and a 'revoluble knife cooperating with the fixed knife, but free of connection therewith; means foranoving said cutting mechanism bodily in one direction at the same speed as the web; and variable-speed driving means connected with said revoluble knife for regulating the length of the sheets to be cut.

13. In a sheet-cutting machine, the combination, with web-feeding mechanism and op erating means therefor; of a cutting mechanism including a revoluble cutter; means for moving the cuttim mechanism bodily in the same direction an at the same speed as the web; variable-speed driving means connected with said revoluble cutter for regulating the length of the sheets to be cut; and an indicatin mechanism operatively associated with said driving means for controlling the speed thereof.

14. In a shect-cutting machine, the combination, with web-feeding mechanism and operating means therefor; of a cutting mechanism; and variable-speed'drivin means connected with said cutting mec ianism for regulating the length of the sheets to be cut, said drivin means embodying a pair of expansible pu leys, a belt connecting the same, and means connected with said pulleys for controlling their expansion.

15. In a sheet-cutting machine, the combination, with web-feeding mechanism and op erating means therefor; of a cutting mechanism; and variable-speed driving means connected with said cuttin mechanism for regulating the length of t e sheets to be cut, said driving means embodying a pair of expansible pulleys, a belt connecting the same, and a pair of levers connected to said pulleys and. arranged onopposite sides thereof for controlling their expansion.

16. In a sheet-cutting machine, the combination, with web-feeding mechanism and operating means therefor; of a cutting mechanism; and variable-speed drivin means connected with said cutting mec anism for regulating the length of the sheets to be cut, said driving means embodying a pair of expansible pulleys, a belt connecting the same, a pair ofalevers connected to said pulleys and arranged on opposite sides thereof for controlling their expansion, and means for operatin said lovers in unison.

17. n a sheet-cutting machine, the combination, with web-feeding mechanism and operating means therefor; of a cutting mechanism; variable-s eed driving means connected with sai euttin mechanism for regulating the length of t e sheets to be cut, said driving means embodying a pair of expansible pulleys, a belt connecting the same, and. means connected with said pulleys for controlling their expansion; and an indicating mechanism operatively associated with said controlling means.

18. In a sheet-cutting machine, the combination, with web-feeding mechanism and operating means therefor; of a cutting mechatulcrumed intermediate their ends and between said pulleys; and an operating shaft for said levers provided with right and lefthand screw threads with which the levers are en aged at one ,end.

v 19. n a sheet-cutting machine the combination, with web-feeding mechanism and operating means therefor; of a cutting mechanism; and variable-speed driving means connected with said cutting mechanism for regulating the length of the sheets to be cut, said drivrn means embodying a pair of expansible pu leys, a belt connecting the same, a pair of levers connected to said pulleys and arranged on opposite sides thereoi for con-- trolling their expansion said levers being fulcrumed intermediate their ends and between said pulleys; an o crating shaft'for said levers provided wit right and lefthand screw threads with which the levers are engaged at one end; and an indicatin fiiecgaanimn operatively associated with said 20. In a sheet-cutting machine, the combiintents nation, with web-feeding mechanism, and operating means therefor, including an automatically actuated clutch; of a cutting mechanism, a pair of racks connected to the cutting mechanism; and gear connections and loose members the latter of which is provided with gear teeth; of a cutting mechanism; a shaft located adjacent the webfeeding mechanism and provided at each end with a gear, one of said gears meshing with the teeth on the clutch member; and a pair of racks in mesh with said gears and connected with said cutting mechanism for moving the latter bodily in the same. direction and at the same speed as the Web when said clutch is operated.

lln testimon whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED @OLLKS, dOd'rllN HENRY C OLLIS. Witnesses:

(I). J. Won'rrr, lhanwoon l Ghanaian 

